50 years

Can you imagine living or being married to the same person for fifty years. Wee tomorrow, my parents Jim and Patty, will be married for 50 years. To me that is absolutely incredible. In fact other than my grandparents, I can't say that I know anyone who has been married that long.

My parents will have a big party tomorrow night at Del Frisco's. They have invited a very select group of people and of course it is mostly family. We will be taking family pictures before the meal tomorrow and then also in various parts of Sundance Square in Downtown Ft Worth. My mom has asked us to all sit down and write a toast to them. Both of my sisters have good enough memories that they can actually stand up and speak off the cuff. No not me, I have to think, and write, and scribble, rewrite, throw away and start again.

So here it goes, I think this is going to be what I will tell my parents tomorrow:

I started thinking about this toast weeks ago. I looked at poetry and stories and pictures. Nothing seemed to say what was and is in my heart. In looking at some of the photos, I came across me as the engineer of the train. When my mom would mop the floors, I would set up the chairs side by side in twos and don my mexican sombrero, get the drum my father made for me, put it in the engineers seat and take over the imaginary train. Oh the places that I seemed to take my brother and sisters. They always sat in their assigned seats and let me take them on that endless ride. They all knew that I was in charge of that train. No one dare sat in my seat.

Every summer, we would spend a week with my grandparents in Oklahoma. They would split us up in twos, because my grandparents just could not coral all four of us. My sister Amy and me were always paired together. One year, my grandmother took us to the little park in Waukhomis. There in all of its glory was the ride called the bullet. I wanted to ride that so bad... I just could not stand it. My grandmother bought me a ticket and took me on that ride. Needless to say, it was a long time before I enjoyed a roller coaster ride again. They just would not stop that ride and I knew I was going to die. That was the same summer that my grandmother hemmed up my cut off shorts, which were suppose to be stringy and very in style.

One summer we broke the tradition and went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. I will never forget that summer, We learned how to water ski and inner tube. Being on top of that water was like being next to God. We would get up early and sit out on the dock and watch the sun come up. The lake was so still and calm. I could go on and on with the memories.

My parents were there for every clarinet recital, basketball game, guitar lesson and much much more. There was nothing better than running to my father when he opened his arms to me and told me he was proud of me. And there was nothing better than my mom coming into my room and laying down beside me and telling me she loved me. My parents instilled in me a good education, but most importantly a strong belief system in God. As a family when we were younger we would sit down and say the rosary together. I remember watching my father as an adult while he was praying. I truly believe that the holy spirit passed through him. My mother taught us the power of prayer. My great grandmother Daisy Penn also taught us to have faith and to love our family members no matter who had harmed us, because when it comes right down to it, the only people you have in the end are your family. I know that my parents and my sisters and I hope my brother will always be there for me as I will always be there for them and their children if the need arises. So in conclusion,
To my parents,
I know that I have not been an easy child to raise...
But I have to say that my life has been easier because you have had my back.
You have always been looking out and trying to protect me as best you could.
Now I am not saying that I have always listened or taken your advise.
Even through all of my life's lessons, that I did not want to hear,
I could hear your love loud and clear, and it did make all of the difference.
I have not always shown the proper respect, but the respect has always been there deep down in my heart.
I cannot every repay you for all you have done for me, but today I would like to say thank you for loving me and caring for me.
I love you with all my heart.
May the lord bless you and keep you. Happy 50th.



Here's to fifty years and hopefully many more.